Our Civil War

Isn’t this a great day? The Weaver of Tales wants to tell you about my favorite tales. They are of the Civil War. In the past I have read hundreds of books set in the most interesting time of our history. Since I have been writing about this era I have done extensive research. It is amazing that this glamorous and romantic period of our nation had such devastating problems.

Our country was on the threshold of technology in so many areas and the war expanded these needs. There were new needs that required our American Ingenuity and we stepped-up.

It breaks my heart that there were so many families that the Civil War tore apart. Grief is a part of any war, but imagine going into battle knowing you were facing your own brother. Tod Carter a southern boy charged out in front of Hood’s army to face the Schofield’s northern boys on the grounds of his home place in Franklin, Tennessee. He was killed not five hundred feet from his home. This was the bloodiest battle in the War because of its great lost in only four hours of battle and it took place after dark.

In today’s standards this war between the North and the South was a man’s war. Most of the women were home taking care of their husband’s work and their own. However not all of them, women were very much apart of the espionage on either side. Many women were in the hospitals caring for the wounded. It is known that over three hundred women put on men’s clothing, cut their hair, and joined the ranks. For everyone that was discovered there were many more which were not discovered.

My first in a series of novels about the Civil War has been published, “Natchez Above The River.” I have completed “Four Long Years” and it will be published in the late winter. I have others of the series in various stages of completions.

Let me take you through the written craft and my imagination to paint and weave the story of a southern family with strong Union ties. I want you to see the Civil War through this family’s strong beliefs, loves, and sorrows.

NATCHEZ

Natchez sits high on the hill above the mighty Mississippi River. This is a delightful city that we loved. They did not have a battle fought here. They were ready to surrender before the Union navy arrived. The city has its wonderful old Civil War mansions all through it. They take you back in time to the elegance of antebellum era. The following are excerpts from “Natchez Above The River” by Ruth Thompson.

The prisms of the chandeliers sparkled and flashed from the candles that flickered in the gentle breeze of the evening. There was no mistaking the aroma of the magnolias that filled the ballroom of Grand Oaks. The herring bone pattern of the mahogany and the white oak woods in the floor shined in the soft light. Soon the most beautiful ladies and regal gentlemen of Natchez would dance on the polished floor. Tonight, Dr. Luther Shaw was giving the ball of the season to announce the engagement of his only daughter, Theresa, Tess, to Nathan Harris of Jackson.


“Tess, those Union boys may be here before long. Some of you young ones will see what real men are like. They have manners, but they are not strutting peacocks. Your Grandfather was a real man. Let me tell you he could make my ears sing. It would be a pleasure to hear him to whisper “Charlie Love” in my ear the way he used to do. He is getting impatient waiting for me to come to him. He’ll have to wait on me a little longer. I’m not going to “Glory” until this nation is united.”


This April night was too quiet. There was no sound from the insects or the animals of the night. They had given this lovely habitat to the noises of the men who gathered here. The peach blossoms illuminated the darkness. Would they be there tomorrow night? The night slipped away. Morning was near and there was the rustle of the soldiers finding their position for the fight of their life. Why were they going to fight here? The Confederates needed this key point at Corinth. The railroad, Memphis and Chattanooga, was essential to ship their needed produce to the east. Grant followed Johnston’s army here and gathered at Shiloh across from Corinth. The waiting would end at dawn.


“Childish behavior! Sir, no one has ever accused me of childish behavior. You can be sure that I will always be a minute or two ahead of your bell. I believe you have been ringing it a minute early everyday. Your bell will not catch me again.”

Louise started to move when he said, “Just a moment Miss Shaw, I have a question I would like to ask you. I have a good friend Dr. Hunter Morrison who was to marry a girl from Natchez he called Tess. Her father is a doctor, could he be your father?”

Apparitions of Mill Springs

The first time I saw the mill at Mill Springs was from our boat on the majestic waters of Lake Cumberland. High on the rugged hills of Wayne County it stood. In eighteen twenty-five a post office was established near the mill. It was called Mill Springs. This mill had the world’s largest over-shot wheel. The mill with its many years of service is still in operation today. In May there is always a corn bread festival at Mill Springs.

The clear pristine waters of Lake Cumberland cover the some of the rugged terrain and its history. Let me go back when there was just the Cumberland River below Mill Springs. The Union and the Confederacy each wanted to control Kentucky, a border state. The Rebels had moved into Mill Springs in November of sixty-one and fortified the area north and south of the Cumberland River. Brig. General George Thomas of the Union was ordered to push the Confederate Army south of the Cumberland River.

The weather was wet and Thomas’ army found it difficult to march through the mud soaked country but they arrived on January the seventeenth at Logan’s Crossing. The Confederate Army was ordered to attack at Logan’s Crossing and they did. The Union army pushed the Rebels into Tennessee. Thomas’ army took over the Confederate position at Mill Springs. This was the first victory of many for the Union in the Western Campaign. There were thirty-nine Union boys that met their maker and are buried in the Mill Springs National Cemetery. The Southern boys were taken to Tennessee.

Many souls of soldiers killed in any battle seem to be bound to a restless existence on earth. This is true of those that fought and died at Mill Springs. It is said that it is not always easy to find the apparitions in Mill Springs. However there are violent spirits roaming Mill Springs.

In a recent reenactment at Mill Springs a boy who was just able to hold a musket participated. On Saturday at two o’clock the reenactment started. The little body stood tall in line waiting for the orders to advance. His proud father stood beside him and the rest of the group that surrounded them.

In the blink of an eye he saw an entire regiment pass in front of them. This regiment looked so real even more than they did. He could hear their yelling, the stomping of their shoes, and felt the motion of the air when they passed. This was another group of enactors and he was excited.

He advanced with the regiment and he saw them disappear into thin air. His unit was still standing tall waiting for their orders to advance. He wanted to run and hide but he stepped back in line and waited for the command. He was mortified that he broke formation but he knew in his heart what he had seen. No one else saw or heard the regiment but him. However most adults are not sensitive to the spirit world where young children are.

Each year with their reenactment at Mill Springs is the “Ghost Walk.” This is one of their biggest events and lots of fun. The reenactment of Mill Springs is well attended, much larger than some of the well-known battlefield reenactments. Could it be because of their active ghosts?